The automated differential separation and wash protocol for sexual assault samples provides differential fraction separation and sperm pellet lysis of up to 6 samples in around 1 hour or up to 12 samples in around 90 minutes. It runs on the QIAcube and is compatible with EZ1 Advanced instruments and QIAamp DNA Investigator chemistries for downstream DNA purification.

The QIAcube HID Differential Washing Station is intended for molecular biology applications in forensic, human identity, and paternity testing. This product is not intended for diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.

Principle

Sexual assault samples pose particular challenges to forensic laboratories. Effective lysis and careful separation of the sperm and epithelial fractions are essential to achieve the best possible results in downstream STR analysis.

To reduce hands-on time and standardize labor-intensive separation and wash steps, QIAGEN has developed an automated differential separation and wash protocol for sexual assault samples.

Procedure

The protocol provides differential fraction separation and sperm pellet lysis of up to 6 samples in a~1 hour or up to 12 samples in ~90 minutes. It runs on the QIAcube and is directly compatible with EZ1 Advanced Instruments and QIAamp DNA Investigator chemistries for downstream DNA purification.